Vizhinjam Port: These South Indian Cities Will Benefit The Most From Launch

The Vizhinjam port, scheduled for commissioning next month, is gearing up to serve approximately 120 million consumers across five major cities — Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi — all within 18 to 24 hours by road or rail.

Additionally, once full operations commence and rail connectivity is established, the port will cater to another 220 million consumers in Hyderabad, Vizag, and Goa, cities reachable within 48 hours.

According to officials, the port's potential is vast, and steps are being considered to develop surrounding infrastructure without impacting the environment. "The demand for the port is already significant, particularly among shipping companies, as it offers a strategic advantage for unloading transshipment cargo and continuing their journey without detours," reports Economic Times.

Businesses across India are also expressing interest in utilising the new port for cost-efficient goods transportation. Goods destined for cities just 48 hours away by rail and road are expected to flow through Vizhinjam, reducing transportation costs and time.

To support the growing demand, a logistics park is being planned near the port, aiming to serve businesses from these key cities.

In its initial phase, Vizhinjam port, operated by Adani Ports, will focus on ship-to-ship traffic until road and rail links are fully operational. The port has already secured 23 cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes and eight giant quay cranes to facilitate cargo handling and boost capacity. These are being actively used during the trial phase of operations.

"The infrastructure is in place for the first phase of the port's operations, and we’ve received all necessary equipment," an official stated.

Additionally, the port has received a pilot-cum-survey vessel, navigational aids such as buoys with lanterns, and four tugboats, three of which have a 70-tonne capacity.

Vizhinjam, located about 14 kilometres (km) from Kerala's capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, has a natural depth of over 18 metres (m) and is located hardly 10 nautical miles (18 km) from the international shipping route from West Asia, Africa, and Europe to the far eastern regions of the world.

Additionally, the availability of a 20-m contour within 1 nautical mile from the coast, minimal littoral drift along the coast, the natural depth that excludes the need for maintenance dredging, the potential for better roads, and rail transport link potential make Vizhinjam a strategic location well-suited for the greenfield project.